All Side Hustle Ideas

Content and media side hustle ideas

A blog, niche website, newsletter, YouTube channel, podcast or social account that earns from ads, affiliate links or sponsors.

Startup cost
Under $100$100 to $1k$1k to $10kOver $10k
Time
Hands-offA few hours a weekPart-timeNear full-time
Where
OnlineIn personOnline and in person
Earns from
AdsAffiliateSubscriptionsOne-time salesService feesRentMarketplace cutSponsors and donations
Coding
No coding neededNeeds coding

12 ideas

  • Content and media
    Practice website for learning Excel
    A simple website that helps people learn Excel through exercises. The founder built it with very little effort and grew it as a dead-simple, boring niche site.
    Hands-offOnline
    Starter Story, 2026
  • Content and media
    Free sudoku sites supported by ads
    A group of free sudoku websites that earn steady income from minimal ads.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Content and media
    Tech blog with ads and Patreon
    A blog that earns from ads and Patreon support, covering hosting costs and a bit more.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2022
  • Content and media
    Maps in your own language site
    Built a site that forces Google Maps links into a chosen language. Ad revenue covers its hosting.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Content and media
    Host a nonprofit's forum for ad revenue
    Hosts a forum and website for a nonprofit, in exchange for placing ads that cover the hosting costs.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Content and media
    Logo gallery supported by ads
    A logo design gallery where designers submit work, earning from ads and ad network placements.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Content and media
    Language learning websites
    Runs a couple of sites for language learners that cover living expenses.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Content and media
    Local niche job board
    A jobs site that earns from affiliate links and AdSense, being rolled out as a network.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Content and media
    Rhyming dictionary website with ads
    Built a rhyming dictionary site where an ad unit covers the hosting costs.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Content and media
    Tax calculator website with ads and affiliates
    A site of tax and finance calculators that earns from AdSense and affiliate income, needing only occasional upkeep.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Content and media
    Network of crowdsourced humor sites
    Runs several user-submitted humor sites and earns from them plus licensing for a paid iPhone app tied to one site.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2011
  • Content and media
    Sudoku website with text-link advertising
    Built a Sudoku website that now earns from advertising, mostly sponsored text links, with free signups seeing no ads.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2011